Archive for May, 2012...

Once upon a time, long, long ago, a sweet little sheep named Woolamina wandered into our lives. She had a beautiful fleece and (gasp) people told me her wool was worth nothing and to throw it away. Really?? Determined to…

So last week one of my favorite Darn Good Yarners, Marilyn M wrote me asking this:

Hi Nicky … Question – - what is the difference between your “At The Bahamas” and your “Around the World” … ? I prefer the “softer” silk yarn … I got a perfect ball in my last order but of course can’t remember the name of it … Also … the Multicolored Tibet Jewels Strip Ribbon – - how is that different from the other recycled sari yarn balls? Thanx a bunch … Have a great week – Marilyn

So I wrote her a killer answer and I was like…hmm.. I bet some of you out there have a similar question… So Darn Good Yarners, here’s your official Nicole-certified answer!

Hi Marilyn! I hope you’re having fun:) So here are the differences:At the Bahamas: this is the softest of the three–you’re going to get some solid runs of colors mixed in with patterns but it’s the thinnest as far as density goes for the silk which makes it ideal for clothing and scarves (things that will be close to your skin)–it’s my personal fave from the three because the coloringAround the World is a denser more sturdy silk–the bahamas sometimes has really thin pieces in it which can rip and you’ll have to knot back together, the Around the World will rarely have that problem and it’s usually double stitched. This ribbon is perfect for bags that require a lot of structure ( I just published a pattern for this last week and it uses three skeins) It would also be great for mats that aren’t in high traffic areas or crocheted bowlsThe Tibet Jewels is a lot lot the Around the World as far as density is concerned but it has a lot more royal colors and pieces of metallic and brocade pieces in it. You can do scarves in this but on large needles (personally I like at least a 19 for this as there can be stiffer bits in and you need the large needles to “release” that in the stitch.

Creating a non-toxic lifestyle has been an ongoing process for me and is still a work in progress. I am amazed at the rate things are changing and the new discoveries and technologies that appear each day. When I first created Groovy Green Livin my intention was to create a space for sharing tips on healthy eating, living a green and clean lifestyle, and forming a community of like-minded eco peeps. I’m very grateful that it’s blossomed into so much more.

Over the years the most common question I receive is “Where do I begin?” There’s a lot of green information out there. As we go through our daily lives we are confronted with information overload, pressuring us to buy specific brands –the media, our friends, family-everyone has an opinion. How do we sort through it all? How can we be sure we are making good choices for ourselves and our families?

I always suggest starting with small, simple changes. Here are my top three:

Start to phase out plastics in your home-especially those that come in contact with food.Plastic and food just don’t belong together. There are so many toxic chemicals in plastic that can leach into your food. The production of plastic is hurting our environment. Plastic ends up in our water ways and landfills, killing wildlife and not decomposing.

Make the switch to reusable bags. The next time you visit the supermarket bring along reusable bags. Leave them in the front seat of your car so you remember them. For those visits to the mall or pharmacy carry a smaller version in your bag or backpack.

Leave your shoes at the door. Our country has an obsession with the “perfect lawn” requiring applications of synthetic pesticides that are not only killing weeds and other naturally occurring plants, but are harmful to you and the environment. All of those toxins march right into your living space when you wear your shoes from outdoors into your home. We have declared our home a “shoe free” zone. All shoes come off in the garage and they stay there until the next time we venture out. We try to remind our friends and family to honor our request for a shoeless house and we are grateful that everyone is very respectful. The best solution: we stop using pesticides on our lawns.

There are so many different ways to be green. What would you add to the list?

So, I know in the past I’ve had yarn naming contests on my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/dgyarn). But I didn’t realize that I could have lost the whole Darn Good Yarn page there by having these fun contests. So, here’s the deal: Post your idea for what these color names should be as comment on this blog.

Be sure to complete your email address when you post your comment here so I can contact you if you win! The winners will get the yarn color named from their entry and they will get a free skein sent to them!

The other thing I ask is that you also “like” and share Darn Good Yarn on facebook because that’s how I’m able to continue to keep new yarns always coming in and keep the fun going on! My facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/dgyarn (you can friend me personally too–I love that! http://www.facebook.com/darngoodyarn) and share this with your friends.

I’ll announce the winners on facebook and on this blog.

Good luck!

Nicole

P.S. If you click on the yarn pictures below you will have the opportunity to purchase them on sale right now during the contest!

Bella darlings, You are going to love this post! It's awesome! Leave comments and give me some feedback. You gonna make this? xo, Nicole ******** Hey everyone! I'm glad to be back as a guest blogger for Nicole, diva of…